updated 05:13 pm EST, Sun December 8, 2013

Android API shows screen mirroring features

Google will likely roll out the ability for owners of devices running Android 4.4 to mirror content on their screens to their televisions using the company's Chromecast network video receiver. Cyanogen Inc. cofounder Koushik Dutta discovered the capability buried in the APIs of the 4.4.1 patch for Android KitKat. The feature will initially be restricted to supported apps.

Currently users can mirror from a Chrome browser tab on a computer to the Chromecast HDMI dongle, but on mobile devices that feature is limited to supported apps.

Koushik, though, saw APIs that will apparently allow Android 4.4.1 devices to stream content to the Chromecast. Those APIs, though, will apparently lock that feature down to approved devices. That means that the feature may not be compatible with hardware such as an Apple TV or Roku.